Show-rack



3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

Patented Jan. 14, 1890.

N. SGHOLL snow RACK.

(No Model.)

3 Sheets-Sheet 2. N. SOHOLL SHOW RACK.

(No Model.)

120419.222. Patented Jan. 14, 1890.

N PETERS Plwlo-ulho n hur, wming utl 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

N. SGHOLL SHOW RACK. No. 419,222. Patented Jan. 14, 1890.

N PETERS. fiioioiilhognphei. Wuhmgim n C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

NICHOLAS SCHOLL, OF CHH LICOTHE, OHIO.

SHOW-RAG K.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 419,222, dated January 14, 1890.

Application filed April 19, 1889. Serial No. 307,735 (No model.)

T0 on whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, NICHOLAS SoHoLL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chillicothe, in the county of Ross and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Show- Rack, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improvement in racks for exhibiting, measuring, and cutting oilcloth, paper, or other material that is adapted to be wound or rolled upon a central rod; and my invention consists in the peculiar construction and combination of devices that will be more fully set forth hereinafter, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of a rack embodying my improvements, illustrating the manner of measuring and cutting the oil-cloth or other material. Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view of my improved rack. Fig. 3 is a a vertical transverse sectional view of the same. Fig. i is atransverse sectional detail view, on a larger scale, of a part of the device. Fig. 5 is a detailsectional view of the measuring apparatus. Fig. 6 is an end view illustratingamodification in the construction of my improved rack or frame. Fig. 7 is a side View of a rack or frame adapted to display the oil-cloth or ma terial from one side only.

The same letters refer to the-same parts in all the figures.

My improved rack is preferably composed of two frames of unequal width, each of said frames being composed of a pair of side pieces or standards 0 0, connected by horizontal boards or shelves which are dovetailed into or secured in any other suitable manner to the said standards, the width of said frames being regulated by the length of said boards or shelves. The upper ends of the standards 0 of said frames are provided on their rear sides with brackets A, through which passes a connecting-rod B, by means of which the said frames are hinged together, washers D being interposed between the standards of the respective frames to keep the smaller frame from sliding loosely upon the clamping-rod. The frames are provided near their lower ends with transverse rungs E E, which may be connected bymeans of cords E so as to prevent the lower ends of said frames from spreading.

The front edges of the boards or shelves F F project beyond the front or outer edges of the standards 0, and on the said front edges of the boards or shelves are secured strips G. Plates or washers H, of suitable thickness, are inserted between the ends of the said strips and the said boards, and longitudinal slots I are thereby formed in the outer portions of the boards, and extending through the entire length thereof, and are adapted for the insertion and guidance of a knife to cut the oil-cloth or material, as will be hereinafter stated.

In the upper side of each shelf or board F, at the central portion thereof, and extending through its entire length, is a concave groove K. Presser-rollers L are arranged in the said grooves, and said rollers may either be j ournaled in eyes formed in the free arms of springs M, or they may be secured firmly to the ends of the said spring-arms, so as to merely rest in the grooves K without being revoluble therein. The said springs M are secured on the boards F near their inner edges at their ends, as shown, and each of the said springs is formed from a single piece of wire and is provided with spring-coils N.

Arranged above each board F, at a suit-- able distance therefrom, and secured on the inner sides of the standards 0, are bearings 0, each of which is stamped from a single piece of sheet or plate metal; or the said bearings may be made of cast metal, if preferred.

The upper sides of the bearings are open, as

shown, and the said bearings are adapted to support the ends of rods P, the said rods being arranged in the centers of the rolls R of oil-cloth or other material which is to be displayed upon the rack. The said rods P may be inserted into the rolls of oil-cloth or other material, in lieu of the core-rods, with which such rolls are ordinarily provided; or in case the material to be displayed is not provided with core-rods it may be rolled or wound directly upon the rods P, as will be readily understood. The ends of the rolls or bolts of oil-cloth or other material are passed over the boards or shelves F directly below the rods P of said bolts or rolls and under the presser-rollers L, the latter serving to force the cloth or material into the grooves K, for the purpose of holding said cloth or other material firmly and smoothly when being cut; also to give suflicient pressure or tension to the material to prevent slack by its own weight while being unwound for measurement, thereby insuring accurate measure by always having a taut edge of the material next to the measuring-tape; also to prevent the bolts or rolls from unwinding until their outer ends are pulled by the salesman or intending purchaser.

In one end of each board F is inserted a pin or guide S, the said pins or guides projecting beyond one end of the frame or rack and being arranged directly in line with the slots 1.

A reel T is journaledon a spindle U, projecting from the outer side of one of the standards C or one of the brackets A, and

the said reel has a supplemental drum V. To the reel is attached the inner end of a measuring-tape W, and to the core of the drum V is attached one end. of a cord X. The said cord and tape are wound on the reel and supplemental drum in opposite directions, so that the tape will be entirely coiled when the cord is entirely unreeled, and vice versa, and to thelower end of the cord is attached a weight X and the said cordis maintained in the proper relation to the drum by means of a guide Z. The function of the weight is to normally keep the tape coiled upon the reel.

The operation of my invention is as follows: In order to measure off a piece of cloth or material, the salesman grasps the end of the measuring-tape and holds the same in contact with the free edge of the cloth or material with one hand, and with the other hand he grasps the said free edge of the cloth or material near its central portion and pulls the same outwardly, thereby causing the cloth or material and the tape to be unreeled simultaneously and at the same rate of speed. The weighted cord attached to the tape-reel prevents the tape from becoming slack while measuring the cloth, and thus insures accuracy of measurement. Said tape being guided under the pin S at the end of the shelf or board F, it will be seen that when the figure on the tape indicating the desired quantity of material is ranged directly under the guidepin the required quantity of material will have been unreeled from the rod P. The.

salesman now releases the material and the tape, allowing the material to hang suspended over the edge of the board or shelf F and the measuring-tape to be immediately rewound upon its reel. The salesman then cuts the measured piece of material from the roll or bolt by inserting a knife into the slot of the board or shelf over which the material hangs and drawing the said knife or blade through the said slot and across the material, as will be readily understood.

Inasmuch as one of the frames of my improved rack is wider than the other, the said rack is adapted to holdand display bolts or rolls of oil-cloth or other material of different width on its opposite sides.

The space between the frames or standards composing my improved rack maybe utilized for storing additional rolls of cloth or material, which may be supported upon the ropes, cords, or metal bands connecting the rungs at thelower ends of the same frames or the standards, bases, or lowermost shelves.

In Fig. 6 of the drawings I have illustrated a modification in, the construction of my improved display-rack, which consists in making the frames composing the said rack of equal width and mounting the lower ends of the standards composing said frames upon a suitable base A the sides of which are in turn connected by means of suitable transverse rungs or braces B The upper ends of the standards composing the said frames may be connect-ed permanently by means of cappieces C of suitable construction. In all other respects the construction of this form of my improved rack will be identical with that already described. It will be seen, however, that this form of rack is adapted to display goods of one width only, and that it is not capable of being folded when not in use into the small compass occupied by my improved folding-rack, as herein described.

Another modification, illustrated in Fig. 7 of the drawings hereto annexed, consists in making the rack of a single frame only, which said frame may be conveniently secured upon a wall, where it will occupy but little room. I would have it understood that I reserve the right to these and to any other modifications in the improved construction of my rack which may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1. In a frame or rack for displaying oilcloth and similar material, the combination of a series of shelves, each having a vertical slot near its outer edge and a longitudinal groove in its upper side, with a series of springpressed rollers resting in said grooves, substantially as set forth.

2. In a rack for displaying oil-cloth and like material, the combination, with a frame comprising the vertical standards and the horizontal longitudinally-grooved shelves or boards, provided with vertical slots near their outer edges, of the spring-pressed rods or rollers resting in the grooves of said boards or shelves, and the bearings secured upon the inner sides of the Vertical standards and adapted to support the core-rods of the material to be displayed, substantially as herein set fOrth.

3. The combination, with the rack or frame having the longitudinally-grooved boards or shelves with vertical slots near their outer edges, and provided with bearings for the core-rods of the material to be displayed, of the spring-pressed rods or rollers resting in IIO the grooves of the shelves, the measuring-tape wound upon a reel suitably journaled to the frame, and the guide-pins attached to the outer ends of the boards or shelves in alignment with the vertical slots in the latter, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination, with the frame having the vertically-slotted boards or shelves and provided with bearings for the core-rods of the material to be displayed, of the measuring-tape wound upon a reel which is suitably journaled to the frame, and the guide-pins attached to the outer ends of the boards or shelves in alignment with the vertical slots in the latter, substantially as herein set forth.

5. In a rack for displaying rolls of oil-cloth and like material, the combination of the horizontal boards or shelves having longitudinal grooves, the spring-arms secured to said frame, and the rods or rollers mounted at the outer ends of said spring-arms and resting in the said grooves, substantially as herein set forth.

6. A rack or frame having the bearings for the core-rods of the rolls of material to be displayed, the slottedboards or shelves over which the free ends of the rolls of material are to be drawn, and the reel mounted on one end of the frame or rack, the said reel having a measuring-tape coiled thereon in one direction and a weight and cord to rotate the wheel in the opposite direction, and thereby normally Wind the tape, all combined and operating substantially as described.

7. In a rack for displaying oil-cloth and like material, the combination of two frames of unequal width provided with brackets on their rear sides at their upper ends, the hinged rod extending through said brackets, spacing- Washers adjusted upon the said hinge-rod, and the cords connecting the lower ends of the said frames, substantially as and for the purpose herein shown and specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto afiixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

NICHOLAS SCl-IOLL.

Vitnesses:

JOHN G. EGLI, WILLIAM C. ERICK. 

